Milking-machine.



W. J. UEBLBR. MILKING MAGHINE. H APPLICATION FILEDJAN. 22,1909.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

'3 SHEETS-*SHEET 1.

III, 1111 I mzz ATTORNEYS W. J. UEBLER.

' MILKING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN.22, 1909- Patented Sept. 29,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. J; UBBLBR. MILKING MACHINE.-

APPLIOATION FILED JAN.2 2 1909.

Patrited Sept. 29, 1914.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

ATTORNEYS Um 111m) bl'Al'na 151111141 '1' U11 1. 'LUJfi.

WILLIAM J. UEBLER, or wEs'r SCI-IUYLER, new YORK.

MIL'KING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

Application filed January 22, 1909. Serial No. 473,697.

skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The object ofmy present invention is to provide a milking machine, whichis simple in construction and efficient, readily taken apart forcleaning or otherwise, and readily assembled and well adapted to meetthe requirements of a practical machine.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a portion of the machine known as thepulsator. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the pulsator on asomewhat reduced scale taken on line 2, 2 of Fig.1, together with someadditional parts of the machine. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional viewof the pulsator taken on line 3, 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontalsectional view of the pulsator taken on line 4, l of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is apartial sectional view taken on line 5, 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is asectional detail of a filter employed in the machine. Fig. 7 shows aplan view of the set of teat cups employed in the machine together withsome of their appurtenances. Fig. 8 shows some of the teat cups withtheir appurtenances mostly in vertical section. Fig. 9 shows in verticalsection a single teat cup with the flexible cup lining partiallycollapsed. Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the teat cup liningindependent of the other parts. Figs. 11 and 12 are cross-sectionalviews of the flexible teat cup lining taken on line 11, 11 and 12, 12,respectively, of 'Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is a top view of the teat cup withthe lining collapsed asjshown in Fig. 9. Fig. 14 is a partial section online 1 1, 14 of Fig. 8 through portions of the milk ducts. Fig. 15 is apartial section on line 15 of Fig. 8 through a portion of the air ducts.Figs. 16, 17 and 18 show details of construction of a valve mechanismemployed in connection with the teat cup. Fig. 19 is a full sized detailof an automatic controlling valve employed in the pulsator. Fig. 20shows a front elevation of a detachable connection employed between themain line suction and presser pipes and the branches to the milkingmachine including a valve or gate controlling branches. Fig. 21 is aside elevation of said connection shown together with cross-sections ofsaid main line pipes. Fig. 22 is a longitudinal vertical section view onthe central line of one member of said detachable connection includingthe valve or gate controlling the branch passages. Figs.

23 and 24 are cross-sectional views of the' same showing the movablevalve or gate parts 1H position corresponding with that of Fig. 22. Fig.25 is another longitudinal sectional view corresponding with Fig. 22with-the valve or gate parts in a. shifted position. Figs. 26 and 27 arecross-sectional views corresponding with the position shown in Fig. 25;Fig. 28 is a vertical sectional view of the assembled parts of thedetachable pipe connection taken'on line 28, 28 of Fig. 21 with themovable part, however, of the gate in a shifted position. Figs. 29 and30 are cross-sectional views of one member of the detachable connectionwith the gate shown in the same position as shown in Fig. 28. Fig. 31 isa sectional detailed view taken on a linecorresponding with 31, 31 ofFig. 4. Figs. 32 and 33 are front and side elevations of a vacuum gagewhich may be employed in connection with the machine. Fig. 34 showsseveral details of a clamp for'closing the rubber milk tubes, servingthe same purpose as a valve orgate. Fig. 35 is a detail view, inhorizontal section, of a part of the top of the milk receptacle, showingthe milk and air passages therein.

The teat cups, which are provided in a set of four, consist of acylindrical shell or casing 40 of rigid material as metal, into which isintroduced the collapsible flexible lining 11 preferably of rubber andnormally of substantial circular form on cross-section. This lining isprovided at its upper 'end with a relatively thin tubular extension 11adapted to be folded over the upper end of the casing 40 and toward. itslower end the lining preferably contracts in a somewhat tapering formand is closed at its lower end by an end portion 11 except for aflexible tubular extension 41 preferablyformed integral with the cuplining and providing a parsage for milk out of the teat cup. ()n theexterior, the walls of the lining particularly on the conical portionare provided with integral ribs as a, b, 0 and (Z, the latter formingpractically plug or closure for the lower end of the casing or shell 40,while the other ribs, that is-to say, a, b and c subdivide the spacebetween the casing and lining into a set of normally independentchambers. The normal dienieter of the lining at the pe- 'ripheriesof theribs a, b and 0 will prefwardly toward the teat cup chambers there isprovided a valve consisting as herein shown of a thin very pliablerubber tube 43. This tube may be formed simply by wrapping a thinflexible sheet of rubber into tubular form without unitingthe edges, andthe same fits the lower portion of the chamber 42 occupying the spaceopposite the ports fig and h.

' Along one wall the tubular valve piece 43 will preferably be providedwith a series of openings as indicated at 43 which do not, however,register with the ports f, g

and h, but may occupy-positions quite close thereto to allow fluids toass through from the exterior to the interlor of the tubular valve 43. For holding the tube 43 against collapsing under suction, there may beintroduced therein an open spiral spring-like 'distender 44 of somewhatreduced diameter with reference to the diameter of the part 43, exceptat its lower extremity 44 which may be a close coil of larger diameterserving as a fastening device for the part 43 in the chamber 42.Connected to the lower end of the chamber 42 is a flexible tube 45 bymeans of which fluid, preferably air, can be introduced under pressureinto the teat cup chambers, or a suction may be applied to the same.Adjacent to the upper end excluding the turned-over part 41 the teat cuplining preferably made thick on two of its opposite walls and thin onthe other two substantially opposite walls, as shown in cross-section inFig. 11, whereby it is adapted. to be collapsed in a somewhat oval form,as shown in the top view in Fig. 13. The several milk tubes 41 and airtubes 45 from the teat cups of a set are deflected inwardly and fitting46. The fitting 46 is also provided with a set of nozzles 46 onto whichthe lower inturned ends of the air tubes 45 are slipped and closely fit,and the outlet nozzle 46 on which the end of the flexible air tube 48 isfitted. The fitting 46 contains a vertical tubular chamber whichreceives the body of the vertically movable plunger 49 carrying at thelower end the valve 50 and at the upper end a piston head 51 fitting ina somewhat enlarged chamber in the top of the fitting 46. The top of thefitting 46 is closed by a cap 52, while the lower part is closed by adetachable portion 53, suitably secured to the main portion of thefitting 46, as by bolts passing through openings 53* (see Fig. 14) insaid fitting, which portion 53 in addition to the nozzle for connectionwith the common milk tube 47 may also contain an eye 54 by which the setof teat cups may be readily suspended in an inverted position on a hook.

The plunger 49 is provided with two reduced sections, the upper one ofwhich always registers with the plane of the passages through thenozzles 46", and the lower one always registers with the passagesthrough the nozzles 46, while the valve 50 is adapted substantially tofit an opening in the lower end of the main portion of the fitting 46just below the plane of the passages through the nozzles 46. A smallpassage i is provided through the upper portion of the plunger 49affording a communication between the chamber containing the piston head51 and the encircling chamber of the plunger opposite the air passagesof the nozzles 46. The cap 52 will preferably be provided with a post52" carrying a plate at its upper end having a set of holes, whichreceive cords 55 connecting the top of the post with the shells of theteat cups and afford a flexible but a limiting connecting be tween thetop of the post 52 and the teat cups. The cord 55 may be a continuouscord running through eyes in the post plate and loops on to the cupshells, as shown in Fig. 7 whereby some of the connections may be takenup, while others may be slackened and almost any relative adjustmentdesired be readily secured. From the set of teat cups the commonmilktube 47 which is preferably flexible rubber, is carried to the receivingvessel 60. This vessel is preferably provided in the top with a largeopening adapted to be closed by a cover 61 on which the pulsatcr andother mechanism of the machine is mounted. The cover 61 is provided witha fitting 62 (see Fig. 4) including preferably a stop cock to which thereceiving tank end of the tube 47 is attached, and after being continuedin a short section of glass tube 63 (see Figs. 4 and 35) through whichthe flow of the milk can be readily observed, discharges at a suitablepoint through the cover 61 directly into the receivin tank through anozzle 64 (see Fig. 2). he air in the receiving tank 60 is more or lessexhausted or rarefied in order to provide a suction through the milktube 47 to the interior of the lining of the teat on s, and this more orless rarefied or exhauste condition either in the receptacle orelsewhere will for brevity be referred to as a vacuum. The receptacle isexhausted through the medium of a branch suction tube 116 applied at thenozzle 65. The vacuum pressure that is maintained in the receptacle 61may be determined and regulated by the valve 66 located in the valvechamber 67 and operating over several outlet openings through the top ofthe cover 61. The upper portion of the valve chamber 67 is placed incommunication with the nozzle 65 by a passage 68, and at the npperend isalso provided with a cylindrical opening in which plays the piston head69 provided on the stem of valve 66. In connection with the iston. 69there is also preferably provided a flexible diaphragm 70, theperipheral edges of which are secured between the top of the valvechamber and the cap thereof. The stem of the valve 66 is continued abovethe valve chamber where it receives a spring 71 adjustably confinedbetween screw-threaded nuts on the upper end of the valve stem-and thecap of the valve chamber. The valve66" will preferably be constructed inthe form shown in Fig. 2, having its under face recessed with a circulargroove registering.

with the openings in the cover 61' whereby only two ring bearing facesare secured and air passages are provided through the central portion ofthe valve.

The pulsator'cylinder 7 his mouhted on.

the cover 61 in a horizontal position and contains practically threepiston heads 7 6, 7 6 and 7 6, closely fitting in the cylinder andconnected for simultaneous movement by an integral bar part 7 6 wherebyin one view 'of thematter the three heads become practically one pistonhaving chambers 77 and 78. In the bottom the cylinder 75 is providedwith a single port 80 (Figs. 2 and 3), which is in communication with asmall chamber-81 (see Figs. 2 and 35) in the body of the cover 61, whichlatter chamber is in communication with pipes 82 (see Fig. 4)

extending to the fittings 83 which fitting includes a stop cock and isadapted to receive one end of the flexible air pipe 48 extending to theteat cups. In one side the cylinder 7 5 also has an exhausting port 84and an inlet port 85, the former in communication with the nozzle 65before referred to,'and the latter in communication with a nozzle 86through which air under pressure may be supplied. As the piston in thecylinder 75 is reciprocated to and fro the-ports 84 and 85 arealternately thrown into communica tion with the port 80. In order toprovide 76 and thus to the atmosphere through a slot 100 in the side ofthe cylinder hereinafter referred to. In the upper wall of the cylinder75 extending from ports in the top of the cylinder adjacent to themiddle to each end of the cylinder are provided air passages 87 and 88.At their ends where they open into the cylinder these passages mayrovided with regulating screws 89, 89. ounted in a suitable valve seator socket on the top of the cylinder 75 is a rocking valve 90 having twoencircling grooves 90 and 90" (see Fig. 19) with two longitudinalgrooves 90, 90 opening into the groove 90 and an intermediatelongitudinalgroove 90* extending in the opposite direction and openinginto the groove 90", these several grooves serving as air passages, ashereinafter more fully pointed out. As the valve 90 rocks the inneroverlapping ends of the grooves 90 and 90 are adapted to register withthe ports at the adjacent ends of the passages 87 and 88. Thecircumferential groove 9O is adapted to register with an inlet port 91open to the atmosphere and controlled at its entrance by an adjustableneedle valve 92. The encircling groove 90 of the valve 90 registers withthe port at 93 in the bottom of the valve casing, which port iscontinued ina passage 93* opening into the suction chamber or port84'bef0re referred to. For operating the rock valve 90 it is provided onone of the external projecting endswith an arm 95, which at its upperend plays between two rubber faced bumpers 96, 96, and at its lower endis provided with a triangular shoe 97. A slide way 98 on the side of thecylinder 7 5 supports a reciprocatingslide 99' secured to the piston inthe cylinder preferably with a screw, so that the slide reciprocates inconjunction with the piston. The screw passes through a slot 100 in theside of the cylinder. This slide 90 carries a standard 101 having aplate at its upper end of a limited length adapted to engage with eitherof'the two faces of the triangular shoe 97 before referred to. Thetwo-arm spring 102 is provided mounted on a fixed support 103. Theshorter arm of this spring has an inturned end, which engages in anopening 95 in the arm 95 of the rock valve, while the longer arm engagesin an eye 10% on the slide 99. The normal position of the spring 102 iswith the two arms both in the same plane. In connection with the tubehaving the nozzle 86 a strainer or filter 105 (see Figs. 6 and 31) maybe employed as a precaution against foreign substances getting into themechanism through the medium of the air used in operating the device.

line pipes 110 and 111 (see Fig. 20) with pumping mechanisms connectedtherewith for producing the air pressure and suct on respectively. Atsuitable points provision cation with branches leading to the. mechanism hereinbefore described. To this end I provide a valve or gatecasing 112, which receives a rotary valve or gate 113 in a chamberpreferably having a slight taper and into which the valve is drawn by aspring 114, which takes up the wear and tends to keep the valve alwaystight. The pipes 110 and 111 respectively communi cate with the casing112 through pipes or passages 112 and 112", (see Figs. 21 and 28 to 30).The casing 112 has branch passages 112 and 112 corresponding with thepassages 112 and 112 respectively. These passages are provided in shortpro ect1ng nipples adapted to receive the removable portion of thedetachable connectlon hereinafter referred to. A portion of the gate orvalve 113, which controls the passages 112 and 112, is provided with acut-out or recess as indicated at 113, While the portion of the valve orgate which controls the passages 112 and 112 is cut out as indicated at113 The removable member of the detachable connection is indicated by115 (see Fig. 28) and includes two shallow sockets adapted to receivethe ends of the nipples before referred to with an interposed packingand two taper nozzles 115* and 115 adapted to receive the ends of thebranch flexible pressure pipe 117 and exhaust or vacuum pipe 116respectively, these pipes being carried to and connected with thenozzles 86 and 65, respectively, before referred to. A link 120 isprovided having one pintle end engaging in the member 115, while theother pintle end carries a cam lever 121. The cam lever is adapted toengage in a seat on top of the casing 112 and when the parts 115 and 112are assembled draw the member 115 toward the casing 112 and secure atight joint or connection between the two for the branch.

serve to relieve the suction or partial vacuum within the receptacle andallow the cover 61 to be removed, and to this passage 125 may beattached by a suitable pipe coupllng a vacuum gage, as shown in Figs. 32and 33,

useful more particularly in testing or experimenting with the machine.

For small teats a reducing bushing 126 may be employed in the teat cup,this bushing consisting of a somewhat funnel-shaped flexible rubberpiece adapted to engage the teat substantially throughout its length andto fill the space between the teat and the lining 11, said bushin havinga flaring and out-turned upper end adapted to {it over and 1 around theregular parts of the teat cup. is made for placing these pipes incommuni- Having described the details of the construction by means ofthe reference characters, some of the features of construction and modeof operation may perhaps he referred to to advantage. hen the gate 113at the mainline pressure and suction pipes is turned to the positionshown in Figs. 22, 23 and 24 the branches therefrom are shut off. Whenthe detachable member 115 is applied and secured by operating the camlever 121, the gate 113 may then be operated preferably first to the.position shown in Figs. 25, 26 and 27. This opens the passage from themain line of suction pipe to the branch suction pipe 116, and the sameoperating through the nozzle 65 and the passage (18, the valve chamber67 and the ports controlled by the valve 66 will shortly exhaust thereceptacle 60 to the degree required for successfully operating themachine. The degree to wh1ch the receptacle is exhausted will largely becontrolled by the relative area of the diaphragm 70 and that of thevalve 66. Further than this, the degree may be regulated by adjustingthe tension of the spring 71. At the time that the gate or valve 11;. isin position shown in Figs. 25, to 27 inclusive, the branch pipe 117 isthrown )pen to the atmosphere, as appears clearly in Fig. 26. In casethe machine is to be operated ontirely by suction as it may be, althoughnot preferably so, atmospheric air for the operation of the teat cupswill enter through this port 112 and the gate or valve 113 will'notrequire to be used in any other positions than the two now referred to,namely: the closed position shown in Figs. 22 to 21 inclusive, and oneof the open positions shown in Figs. 25 to 27 inclusive. In case ofusing the machine with compressed air, however, after the receptaclebecomes exhausted the gate or valve 13 is operated to the position shownin Figs. 28 to 30 inclusive. In this latter position the suction isstill continued through the branch pipe 116 and the branch pipe 117 isput in communication with the main line pressure pipe. \Vhen air underpressure is supplied through the pipe 117, or even when atmospheric airis supplied through this pipe (a suflieient vacuum or suction beingutilized in the pipe 116) and the piston in the pulsator cylinder isshifted more or less to the left-hand position, as shown in Fig. 3, theair has access through the port 85, the piston chamber 77, the port 80,the pipe 82, the flexible tube 48 and the mosphere.

passages of the fitting 46 to the branch tubes 45, the teat cup casingchamber 42 and the chambers in the teat cup between the lining and theshoulder.

chamber of the teat cup and as the same becomes inflated the upperportion of the teat cup lining is more or less collapsed on the teat.When the inflation of the upper chamber has proceeded to some extent,the compression of the lining draws away theencircling rib a and theinflation continuing through the port c then inflates the two upperchambers until it becomes suflicientto collapse that portion of thelining carrying the rib b. which opens up the space into the thirdchamber and the inflation may continue progressively, as described,until all teat cup and the casing become inflated. And if air undersuflicient pressure is continued to be supplied the lowermost ring-d ofthe teat cup will become sufliciently distorted to allow the compressedair to escape zaround theperiphery of this ring and between it and theshell or casing to the at- At the same time that the teat cup is beinginflated, as described, suction is applied to the teat within the lihingthrough the medium of the tube 41, the passages of the teat cup fitting46 and the tube 47 from the receptacle, the stop cock in the fitting 62,of course, being open. After the teat cup has been duly inflated theoperati'qn then is to deflate it, and this is accomplished by placingthe tubes 45 with the passages leading to the port 80 in communicationwith the exhaust port 84 in the pulsator cylinder by shifting thepulsator piston more or less to the right-hand position, from that shownin Fig. 3. When suction is applied to the casing chamber 42 air iswithdrawn from the chambers between theteat cup lining and the casingthrough the several ports 6, f, g and it. As to the latter three thetubular lining 43 serving as a valve collapses sufficiently to openthese ports. The arrangement shown not only allows the several teat cupchambers to be exhausted quickly, but at the final stage of theoperation allows each teat cup chamberto be exhausted separately. At thetime that suction is applied to exhaust the chambers of the teat cup,suction is also applied through the passage i to the chamber above thepiston 51 in the fitting 46. Exhausting this chamber serves to draw theplunger 49 upwardly, one effect of which is to operate the valve 50 toclose the passage from the teat cup milk pipes 41 into the common milkpipe 47. A cushioning effect on the upward movement of the plunger 49 issecured by so locating. the inlet opening 51".

The air under pressure. through the port 6 enters the uppermost reachesthe upper limit of its movement.

The pulsator is operated by suction which, from the chamber of which thenozzle 65 is the outlet, communicates through the passage. 93 with theport 93 registering with the encircling groove 90 of'the rock valve 90.When rocked to one position the branch groove 90? of the valve 90registers with the inner end of one of the passages 87 or 88 along thetop of the pulsator cylinder, 'whereby the suction is applied to one end.or the other of the cylinder, and when so of the chambers between thelining. of the applied moves the piston in the direction of or 90 fromthe groove 90* registers with the other. This allows air to freely enter.the opposite end of the cylinder from that to which suction is beingapplied from the passage 91. The flow of. air into the passage 91 isregulated by adjusting the needle valve 92. It may be here noted thatconsiderable importance is attached to the fact thatthe valve 92 isdirectly at the beginning of this inlet passage. makes the mostrestrictive point directly at the entrance, whereby foreign matter ismore eflectually excluded than if the most restrictive point waselsewhere. Substantially at the completion of the movement of thepulsator piston in each direction the position of the rock valve 90 isautomatically changed by the spring 102. This spring is placed undertension first in one direction and then in the other direction by beingconnected with the piston, as heretofore described. The operation of thevalve 90 is retarded or timed byengagement of one face or the other ofthe shoe 97 with the top of the stand 101 until the full movement of thepiston in one direction or the other is' nearly reached, when these twoparts become disengaged and the spring 102 is free to operate to shiftthe position of the rock valve instantly. The rapidity of the motion ofthe pulsator piston may be generally regulated by adjusting theneedlevalve 92 and as toits movement in either direction, further regulated byadjusting the screws 89. In other words, by regulating the independentlyadjustable valve screws 89 the passage of air to and from either end ofthe pulsator cylinder may be varied, thereby varying the rapidity ofmovement of the pulsator piston in one di- This arrangement re'ctionwith respect to its movement in the opposite direction. By this meansthe time during which suction is applied to teat chambers of the teatcups may, at w1ll, be

' compressed air to have access through the suction apparatus.

port 80 and the connecting passages to the chambers of the teat cup andinflate the same. The from ri ht to left of the piston head 76 shuts oflthe port 84 in connection with the The movement of the piston head 76from left to right, as shown in Fig. 3, first opens the port 84L,allowing suction to be applied to the chamber 78 in the piston, and nextshuts off the port 80 cutting off the pressure therefrom. That portionof the face of the head 76, which closes the port 80, is somewhat widerin the direction of the length of the piston than is the width of theport, so that there is some interval of time allowed in which the port80 is completely out off. This interval is useful in allowing thecompressed air stored in the passages and inflated chambers of the teatcup to expand and continuing the pressure on the teat as the milk isbeing' withdrawn. On its farther passage toward the right, as shown inFig. 3, the piston 7 6 opens up the port 80 to the chamber 78 allowingthe suction apparatus to operate on the inflatable chambers of the teatcup and deflate the same.

In case one or more of the teat cups of a set are not required, thosenot in use may be temporarily out off by closing the pipes and 41 bymeans of a clip suc as shown a in Fig. 34, forced over these pipes-andcollapsing the same.

It will be noted that 'all parts of this apparatus are constructed to bereadily disquiring tools or special appliances, and

altogether of a characterthat will make them practical for use byunskilled persons.

Modifications and changes in and from the construction herein describedmay be made without departing from the invention 'as hereinafterintended to be claimed.

Vihat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A teat cup having a rigid shell and a collapsible lining havingencircling spaced ribs adapted to engage with the shell to provide aseries of inflatable chambers, substantially as set forth.

2. A teat cup having a tubular rigid shell,

further continued movement an inflatable lining within the shell havingspaced external ribs detachably engaging with the shell and providing aseries to some extent of independent inflatable chambers between theshell and lining, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a teat cup of a tubular shell of rigid material, aflexible lining within the shell having a set of external ribs fittingthe shell and means for inflating and deflating the spaces between thelining and shell, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination in a teat cup of a tubular rigid shell, anelasticlininghaving encircling elastic ribs normally fitting against the wallsof the shell and dividing the space between the lining and the shellnormally into a series of chambers, and means for inflating the chamberssuccessively and deflatin them simultaneously, substantially as setforth.

5. The combination in a teat cup of a rigid tubular casing open at eachend, an elastic lining having external elastic ribs normally fitting thecasing and subdividing the space betweenthe casing and lining normallyinto a series of inflatable chambers, the teat cup lining substantiallyfitting and closing the lower end of the casing and means for inflatingand deflating the spaces between the casing and lining, substantially asset forth.

6. The combination in'a teat cup of a tubular casing open at each end,an elastic tubular lining having an extension at the upper end adaptedto be folded over the upper end of the casing and'being closed into aconductor at the lower end and having encircling elastic ribs normallyclosely fitting the casing and dividing the space between the lining andeasing into a series of inflatable chambers, and means for inflating anddeflating said chambers between the lining and the casing, substantiallyas set forth.

7. The combination of a teat cup having a series of inflatable chambers,means providing an exterior chamber having a series of ports openinginto said teat cup chambers, and a valve controlling said portsconsisting of a flexible tube inserted into said exterior chamberopposite said ports, substantially as set forth.

8. A teat cup having a series of inflatable chambers, means providing anexterior chamber having a series of ports opening into said teat cupchambers, a valve for controlling saidports. consisting of a thinlining, of a reducer consisting of a tube of flexible material adaptedto be inserted within'the lining and substantially to fill the spacebetween the'teat and lining, said tube having a flaring end to fit theupper end of the teat cup, substantially as set forth. I

10. In a milking machine having passages for a motive fluid, thecombination,

with a set of teat cups having chambers adapted to be inflated by fluidfrom said passages, and milk tubes leading from said teat cups, of acommon fitting having a valve controlling the flow of milk in saidtubes, apiston chamber in communication with said motive fluid passages,and an operating piston for said valve in said chamber, substantially asset forth.

11. In a milking machine pulsator the combination of a cylinder havingmotive fluid ports, a reciprocating piston in the cylinder, a valvecontrolling said ports, a valve operating spring connected with thevalve and piston, and interengaging devices carried by the piston andvalve respectively for preventing movement of the valve prior to apredetermined time, substantially as set forth.

12. A set'of teat cups and a common fitting to which the cups areconnected at the lower ends by flexible tubes in combination with astandard on the fitting, and adjust able flexible connections betweenthe several teat cups and the standard,- substantially as set forth.

13. In a milking machine pulsat0r,'the combination of a cylinder havingmotive fluid ports, a reciprocating piston in the cylinder, a valvecontrolling said ports, a valve operating spring directly connected withthe valve andpiston, and means connecting said valve and piston forpreventing movement of the valve prior to a predetermined time,substantially as set forth.

14:. In a pulsator for milking machines the combination of a cylinderhaving inlet and outlet ports through its sides and motive fluidpassages leading into each end, a reciprocatiiig chambered piston in thecylinder controlling the ports and shifting the chambers of the pistonwith reference to the ports, a rock valve controlling the motive fluidpassages. a two-arm spring connected at one end to the rock valve and atthe other to the piston whereby the spring is placed under tensionaltcrnatelyin opposite directions, and means for releasing the valve substa'ntially at the end of the stroke of the piston and at other timesholding it, substantially as set forth.

15. In a milking machine pulsator, the combination of a slotted cylinderhaving motive fluid ports. a reciprocating piston in the cylinder, arock valve controlling said operating spring operatively connected withsaid piston, and a slide secured to said piston through the slot in saidcylinder and cooperating with said valve operating arm for preventingmovement of the valve prior to a predetermined time, substantially asset forth. l

16. In a pulsatorfor milking machines the combination'of a cylinderhaving inlet and outlet ports through its sides and motive fluidpassages leading into each end, a piston in the cylinder controlling theports, a rock valve controlling the motive fluid passages, a springconnected at one end to the rock valve andat the other. to the pistonthrough a slot in theside of the cylinder, a slide of limited lengthconnected with the piston and operating in connection with an arm of therock valve to time its operation, substantially as set forth.

17. A detachable branch coupling for main line pipes for milking machinecon nections consisting of a'valve casing having branch passagesconnecting with the main lines and outlet passages terminating innipples, a valve in the casing controlling the branch passages, adetachable member "having sockets to receive said nipples and hoseconnections and a clamp for, binding the detachable member to the valvecasing, substantially as set forth. Y

18. In a milking machine pulsator, the combination of a slotted cylinderhaving motive fluid ports, a reciprocating piston in the cylinder, arock valve controlling said ports and having an operating arm, a valveoperating spring, and-a slide secured tosaid piston through the slot insaid cylinder and cooperating-with said valve operating arm forpreventing movement of the valve prior to a predetermined time, saidvalve operating spring being connected at its opposite ends to saidvalve operating arm and slide respectively, substantially as set' forth.

19. In a milking machine pulsator, the combination of a cylinder havingmotive fluid ports, a reciprocating piston in the cylinder, a slideconnected with said piston, a rock valve controlling said ports andhaving an operating arm provided with a triangular head engaging saidslide to control the operation ofsaid valve, and a spring operativelyconnected with said piston for .perating said valve, substantially asset forth.

In witness whereof, I have afiixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 8th day of January, 1909. 1

, 7 WILLIAM J. UEBLER.

Witnesses:

SARAH E. CLARK, EMMA S. HESSE.

